An Experimentally Validated Selection Protocol for Biochar as a Sustainable Component in Green Roofs
Green roofs contribute to more sustainable cities, but current commercial substrates suffer from important limitations. If carefully selected, biochar could serve as a viable option for a more sustainable green roof substrate. We propose a protocol to select an optimal biochar for green roof substra...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Waste |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0391/1/1/13 |
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| author | Tom Haeldermans Jeamichel Puente Torres Willem Vercruysse Robert Carleer Pieter Samyn Dries Vandamme Jan Yperman Ann Cuypers Kenny Vanreppelen Sonja Schreurs |
| author_facet | Tom Haeldermans Jeamichel Puente Torres Willem Vercruysse Robert Carleer Pieter Samyn Dries Vandamme Jan Yperman Ann Cuypers Kenny Vanreppelen Sonja Schreurs |
| author_sort | Tom Haeldermans |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Green roofs contribute to more sustainable cities, but current commercial substrates suffer from important limitations. If carefully selected, biochar could serve as a viable option for a more sustainable green roof substrate. We propose a protocol to select an optimal biochar for green roof substrate amendment. Coffee husks, medium-density fiberboard, palm date fronds, and a mixture of waste wood, tree bark, and olive stone kernels are selected as residues for biochar production to develop a selection protocol. The residues are pyrolyzed at 350, 450, 500, and 550 °C in a lab-scale reactor. A pyrolysis temperature of 450 °C is selected for upscaling and is based on biochar yield, pH, salinity, and elemental composition. From evaluating the biochar characteristics after upscaling, it can be concluded that the biochar’s carbonization degree is mainly controlled by pyrolysis temperature, while yield, pH, and salinity are more dependent on the biomass properties. Ultimately, our procedure evaluates the presence of important contaminants, the biochar’s water holding capacity, salinity, pH, and carbonization degree. To validate the developed protocol, plant coverage experiments on green roofs are performed, which are quantified using a novel digital image processing method, demonstrating its efficient use to facilitate future biochar selection in substrates. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:22:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c31650af5f7d43babccb2a54ecd668e7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2813-0391 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:22:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Waste |
| spelling | doaj.art-c31650af5f7d43babccb2a54ecd668e72023-11-17T17:48:39ZengMDPI AGWaste2813-03912023-01-011117619410.3390/waste1010013An Experimentally Validated Selection Protocol for Biochar as a Sustainable Component in Green RoofsTom Haeldermans0Jeamichel Puente Torres1Willem Vercruysse2Robert Carleer3Pieter Samyn4Dries Vandamme5Jan Yperman6Ann Cuypers7Kenny Vanreppelen8Sonja Schreurs9Research Groups of Environmental Sciences, CMK, IMO, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, BelgiumFaculty of Electrical Engineering, Universidad de Oriente, Santiago de Cuba 90600, CubaResearch Groups of Environmental Sciences, CMK, IMO, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, BelgiumResearch Groups of Environmental Sciences, CMK, IMO, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, BelgiumResearch Groups of Environmental Sciences, CMK, IMO, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, BelgiumResearch Groups of Environmental Sciences, CMK, IMO, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, BelgiumResearch Groups of Environmental Sciences, CMK, IMO, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, BelgiumResearch Groups of Environmental Sciences, CMK, IMO, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, BelgiumResearch Groups of Environmental Sciences, CMK, IMO, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, BelgiumResearch Groups of Environmental Sciences, CMK, IMO, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, BelgiumGreen roofs contribute to more sustainable cities, but current commercial substrates suffer from important limitations. If carefully selected, biochar could serve as a viable option for a more sustainable green roof substrate. We propose a protocol to select an optimal biochar for green roof substrate amendment. Coffee husks, medium-density fiberboard, palm date fronds, and a mixture of waste wood, tree bark, and olive stone kernels are selected as residues for biochar production to develop a selection protocol. The residues are pyrolyzed at 350, 450, 500, and 550 °C in a lab-scale reactor. A pyrolysis temperature of 450 °C is selected for upscaling and is based on biochar yield, pH, salinity, and elemental composition. From evaluating the biochar characteristics after upscaling, it can be concluded that the biochar’s carbonization degree is mainly controlled by pyrolysis temperature, while yield, pH, and salinity are more dependent on the biomass properties. Ultimately, our procedure evaluates the presence of important contaminants, the biochar’s water holding capacity, salinity, pH, and carbonization degree. To validate the developed protocol, plant coverage experiments on green roofs are performed, which are quantified using a novel digital image processing method, demonstrating its efficient use to facilitate future biochar selection in substrates.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0391/1/1/13biochar productionbiochar upscalinggreen roofsselection protocol |
| spellingShingle | Tom Haeldermans Jeamichel Puente Torres Willem Vercruysse Robert Carleer Pieter Samyn Dries Vandamme Jan Yperman Ann Cuypers Kenny Vanreppelen Sonja Schreurs An Experimentally Validated Selection Protocol for Biochar as a Sustainable Component in Green Roofs Waste biochar production biochar upscaling green roofs selection protocol |
| title | An Experimentally Validated Selection Protocol for Biochar as a Sustainable Component in Green Roofs |
| title_full | An Experimentally Validated Selection Protocol for Biochar as a Sustainable Component in Green Roofs |
| title_fullStr | An Experimentally Validated Selection Protocol for Biochar as a Sustainable Component in Green Roofs |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Experimentally Validated Selection Protocol for Biochar as a Sustainable Component in Green Roofs |
| title_short | An Experimentally Validated Selection Protocol for Biochar as a Sustainable Component in Green Roofs |
| title_sort | experimentally validated selection protocol for biochar as a sustainable component in green roofs |
| topic | biochar production biochar upscaling green roofs selection protocol |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0391/1/1/13 |
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